How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in California?

Private criminal defense in California is usually billed as a flat fee by stage of case — pre-filing, pretrial, and trial priced separately — rather than hourly. Defendants who cannot afford counsel are entitled to a court-appointed attorney, typically the public defender, under Penal Code section 987 and the Sixth Amendment.

Criminal defense pricing tracks the life of a case. Most private attorneys quote a flat fee for the pretrial stage — arraignment, bail arguments, discovery review, motions, and negotiation — with trial, appeals, and outside costs such as investigators and expert witnesses priced separately. Business and Professions Code section 6148 requires a written agreement whenever expense will foreseeably exceed one thousand dollars, stating what the fee covers; the exclusions matter as much as the quote, so ask whether motions, probation violation hearings, and trial are included. Cost never means going unrepresented: Penal Code section 987 and the Sixth Amendment entitle a defendant who cannot afford counsel to an appointed attorney, requested at arraignment through a simple financial declaration, and California eliminated most fees once charged for appointed representation. Some counties operate alternate or conflict defender offices when the public defender is unavailable. Pre-filing engagement, before charges are decided, is a distinct service some offices price separately — occasionally where the most leverage exists.

Authority: Cal. Penal Code § 987